For the first time in the history of the Republic of Korea Navy, a female officer has been appointed as the commanding officer of a large vessel led by a colonel.

The Navy announced today (August 4) that Captain Bae Seon-young will assume command as the captain of the 14,500-ton large transport ship ROKS Dokdo (LPH) tomorrow (August 5).

A colonel holds the highest rank among Navy ship commanders, taking charge of large transport ships such as the Dokdo, as well as destroyers and large combat support ships.

This marks the first time a female officer has been appointed as the commander of a colonel-level vessel.

Captain Bae entered the Korea Naval Academy in 1999 as part of its 57th cohort—the first year the academy accepted female cadets—and was commissioned in 2003.

She is an operations expert who has served in various roles, including as commanding officer of Chamsuri Patrol Killer Medium (PKM) 282, operations officer of the patrol combat corvette ROKS Namwon, and captain of the minelayer ROKS Wonsan.

She also has a previous record of serving as the deck officer aboard the ROKS Dokdo, and is now returning to the ship as its captain.

Recently, she served as the Maritime Operations Director for the Combined Naval Component Command during this year's Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise, where the South Korean Navy undertook the role of Combined Naval Component Commander to direct multinational maritime forces.

Captain Bae expressed her aspirations, stating, "What I have learned through experiencing various vessels at sea, ranging from combat ships to support ships, is the perspective to view situations multi-dimensionally." She added, "Based on my past operational experience, I will comprehensively oversee the flow of maritime operations and command the Dokdo so that it can demonstrate flawless joint and combined operational capabilities in the event of an emergency."

She also emphasized, "Standing on the bridge of the Dokdo once again as its captain is an infinite honor and brings a heavy sense of responsibility." She continued, "As I understand the operational characteristics of the Dokdo better than anyone else, I will communicate deeply with the crew members and maximize the potential of the Dokdo."

To her junior female officers, she offered a word of encouragement: "I want to send my heartfelt support." She added, "It is certainly not an easy path, but you are already doing exceptionally well, and I hope you will continue to walk this path together with pride."

(Photo: Provided by the Navy, Yonhap News)